The Japanese was the overnight leader alongside Spain's Azahara Munoz at the end of day one, with both players carding five-under-par at the first women's major of the season.

The thirty-year-old now sits on seven-under-par but has a new rival alongside her, with American Lexi Thompson joining her at the top of the leaderboard on the same score.

The 21-year-old Thompson is hoping to win the event for the second time after triumphing at the Californian course in 2014.

She finished her round of 68 with a 30-foot birdie putt on the 18th while Miyazato had a mixed day, with five birdies and three bogeys.

The Japanese birdied the par five ninth hole, her last of the day, to draw level with Thompson. 

“That was huge," she said

"I know for some points you can have a bogey on this golf course, but I had to be really patient, and I had a good feeling with my short game.

“So I kind of had that confidence, but it was really good up-and-down and kind of a nice stretch towards the end.”

Thompson added: "I definitely could have shot a few shots lower out there, but I hit some bad shots out there too that I got away with and I recovered really well.

"That’s what you have to do in majors.

"If you hit a bad shot, you have to pick yourself up and go to the next one.”

Six players sit a shot behind the leaders on six-under-par, including New Zealand's Lydia Ko, the 18-year-old who is hoping to win back-to-back majors after her triumph at The Evian Championship in September.

Munoz could only manage a round of 78 and has drifted out of contention to one-over-par.